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The devastating war in Gaza has set back years of joint work by two environmental NGOs, one Israeli and one Palestinian, which has brought together Palestinians, Jordanians and Israelis to work on clean water technology for Gazans.
Dr Tareq Abu Hamed, executive director of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, said that unique technology that can extract water from air was under threat during the massive aerial bombardment in the strip, and fighting between Hamas and Israeli soldiers.
"Issues like climate change, water scarcity, pollution have no borders or checkpoints. We hope we can continue to bring together people from both sides and address these issues jointly," he said.
His group has worked on the unique water project with Palestinian NGO, Damour for Community Development.
Three out of seven Watergen installations in Gaza have survived the Israeli airstrikes and are supplying potable water to the people in the south, Mr Hamed told The National.
“These devices convert humidity in the air into drinking water. These systems are off grid and hence work 24/7 with solar energy,” said Mr Hamed, a Palestinian Israeli who had earlier served as the acting chief scientist of Israel.
“Our Palestinians partners have confirmed that three installations are safe and working,” he said adding the facility could be the only clean drinking water source for the people.
We don’t know what is their status as it is difficult to contact our Palestinian partners. It is difficult to imagine that the machines have survived the intense airstrikes
Tareq Abu Hamed,
Arava Institute
The three machines are located in Abasan Al Kabira, Abasan Al Jedida and the Nasser medical Centre in Khan Younis, and provide relief to Gazans who have been pushed into the abyss of a humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
Palestinians who fled to south Gaza following warnings from the Israeli army, are grappling with water and power shortages after Israel cut off supply lines into the strip. People have been standing in long lines for clean drinking water, and many have fallen ill after drinking brackish water.
According to the UN, only five per cent of Gaza’s water needs are now being met, and lorries with aid entering the territory from Egypt are hardly enough to meet the needs of the population.
Mr Hamed said three of the installations that survived the airstrikes can jointly produce about 6,000 litres of water a day.
“That could be enough to run a school or a hospital,” he said.
The fate of the other four installations, located in the north of Gaza where intense battle between Israeli forces and Hamas is raging, is not known.
“We don’t know what is their status as it is difficult to contact our Palestinian partners. It is difficult to imagine that the machines have survived the intense airstrikes and bombings," said Mr Hamed.
People grappling with water shortages
The Watergen installations were sent to Gaza as part of a joint project between Arava Institute and local Palestinian NGO, Damour for Community Development, to address the acute water shortage in Gaza.
“Gaza always suffered from water shortages and water quality. Around 97 per cent of underground water in Gaza is polluted and not fit for human consumption. That is caused by several reasons like over pumping, infiltration of sewage to the aquifer,” said Mr Ahmad.
Before the war, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza had access to just 80 litres of water per day, falling below the international standard of 100 litres set by the World Health Organisation, according to a report by OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs).
Since the start of the war, the average consumption of water for all purposes in Gaza has fallen to between two and three litres a day per person. And most of this water isn’t clean or safe to drink.
To address the water shortages in Gaza, the UAE has announced that it will build three desalination plants in Rafah, Gaza Strip, as part of the 'Gallant Knight 3' humanitarian operation.
The Arava Institute brings together and hosts students from Israel, Palestine, Jordan as well as participants from around the world in its campus, carries out research and partly funds environmental projects to promote cross-border cooperation and environmental diplomacy.
Mr Hamed said the Institute is also undertaking several off grid waste water treatment plant projects and desalination projects In Gaza.
“Gaza always suffers from the lack of electricity. That prevents them from treating waste water, which is often pumped into the fields or into the sea. We know that 70 per cent of the beaches in Gaza are polluted with sewage. That is why we do this work to set up off grid water treatment plants to recycle water which is again used for agriculture,” he explained.
The Institute also has similar projects in the West Bank, which are currently halted due to the war, said Mr Hamed.
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
'Morbius'
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What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
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Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
